Taxi Fare Review In Highland

27th March 2011

•Public Notice - Revised Taxi Fares
The public is being asked for its views on proposals by The Highland Council to revise the scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands. The public have until Friday 22 April to respond. Responses will be reported back to the Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee on Thursday 26 May, with a proposed implementation date of midnight on Monday 20 June of this year

In reviewing the fares, the Council has taken into account increases in the costs of operating taxis, such as rising diesel, petrol and insurance premiums.

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, said the Council exercised a balancing function in setting taxi fares between the expectations of taxi operators to earn a living against the public expectation to be able to hire a taxi of reasonable quality at a reasonable price.

Operators, he said, were entitled to charge any fare, provided it did not exceed the maximum provided for in the tariff.

In summary the general effect of the amendments proposed are as follows:

Tariff 1: The cost of the first mile will rise from £3.10p to £3.20p, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.30p to £1.40p.

Tariff 2: applies on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day and between 0pm and 7 am on any day, all day on Saturday and Sunday and when 5 or more passengers are being carried at any time of day or night): The cost of the first mile will rise from £4.20 to £4.30, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.80 to £1.90.

Tariff 3: applies on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2 January. It also applies when 5 or more passengers are being carried between 10 pm and 7 am, all day on Saturday and Sunday and on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day. Tariff 3 may be applied all day on Saturday where there are 5 or more passengers being carried.

A maximum charge of £60 is payable by an offending passenger, where a vehicle requires to be removed from service for cleaning in order for it to be restored to a usable state and condition.

Responses in writing should be sent by Friday 22 April to-

Michelle Morris, Assistant Chief Executive
Council Headquarters
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX

Public Notice - Revised Taxi Fares
In accordance with the requirements of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Highland Council is reviewing the maximum level of charges for the hire of Taxis or Private Hire Cars fitted with Taxi Meters.

It is proposed that with effect from midnight on 20th June 2011, the maximum fares will be as follows:-

Tariff 1;

•For the first 785 yards or part - £ 2.50
•For each additional 130 yards or part - .10p
General effect - the price of a hire £3.20 for the first mile plus £1.40p per mile thereafter plus extras

*Tariff 2; applies on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day and between 10.00pm and 7.00 a.m. on any day, all day on Saturday and Sunday and when 5 or more passengers are being carried at any time of any day or night, for example, by a "London" style taxi or by a "people carrier" or by a minibus, except where Tariff 3 applies.

•For the first 560 yards or part - £ 3.00
•For each additional 92 yards or part - .10p
General effect - the price of a hire £4.30 for the first mile plus £1.90 per mile thereafter plus extras

*Tariff 3; applies on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and 2nd January. It also applies when 5 or more passengers are being carried between 10.00pm and 7.00am, all day on Saturday and Sunday and on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day for example, by a "London" style taxi or by a "people carrier" or by a minibus.

•For the first 444 yards or part - £ 3.60
•For each additional 74 yards or part - .10p
General effect - the price of a hire £5.30 for the first mile plus £2.40 per mile thereafter plus extras

**Extra Charges

•Waiting time for first 2 minutes .10p
•For each additional period of 20 seconds or part thereafter .10p
•Booking ahead e.g. by telephone .50p
•Any bridge tolls or ferry charges, where applicable.
In addition, provision has been made for a supplementary booking charge of up to a maximum of £6.50 to compensate for the cost of the outward journey for hires which commence 3 miles or more away from the taxi or taxi base (whichever is the nearer) and the customer wishes to travel further away. This charge may only be demanded if the customer is informed of the amount of the charge at the time of booking.

When a taxi (or a private hire car fitted with a taxi meter) is called but not used, a charge shall be allowed as if it had been occupied from the time it left the stance or garage.

Soiling Charge - maximum of £60.00 payable by an offending passenger, where a vehicle requires to be removed from service for cleaning in order for it to be restored to a usable state and condition.

In summary the general effect of the amendments proposed are as follows:

Tariff 1: The cost of the first mile will rise from £3.10p to £3.20p, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.30p to £1.40p.

Tariff 2: The cost of the first mile will rise from £4.20 to £4.30, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.80 to £1.90.

Tariff 3 can be charged all day on Saturday and on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day where 5 or more passengers are being carried.

The Council hereby invites the public to submit written representations about these proposals.

Please write to the Assistant Chief Executive at the address shown below by Friday 22nd April 2011. Any representations will be considered by the Council's TEC Services Committee on 26th May 2011 before the new fare scales are fixed.

Michelle Morris,
Assistant Chief Executive,
The Highland Council,
Glenurquhart Road,
Inverness,
IV3 5NX.
23rd March 2011